Chapter 211: A Single Plan Within Planlessness
Chapter 211: A Single Plan Within Planlessness
“What kind of memorandum?”
The Poison King tried to divine my intentions.
“In exchange for my signature, I have to teach you one poison technique a day? Is that it?”
“No.”
“Then a memorandum stating that I won't hold you responsible even if you, the Second Young Master, steal my poisons or sneakily learn my techniques while you're here?”
“Lord Poison King, I am terrified of your poisons and your techniques. I’d prefer to stay as far away from them as possible.”
“Then what on earth is this memorandum about?”
The content of the memorandum I intended to write was something the Poison King could never have anticipated.
“A memorandum stating that if you lose this bet, you will step out of your world.”
The Poison King flinched. His expression shifted strangely.
“And what kind of world do you think mine is?”
“Researching alone, mixing alone, thinking alone, laughing alone. Digging holes in the ground by yourself. That world.”
He thrust his face close to mine. His impossibly young face was right under my nose.
In that moment, I could feel it. Though his body had moved closer, the man known as the Poison King had actually retreated. Standing on the boundary between his own world and the outside, he had stepped back to hide.
“All you have to do is take me back and get the Cult Leader’s approval, and you’re done, aren't you?”
“That’s right. That is why I came.”
“Then whether I stay in such a world or not has nothing to do with you, does it?”
“It does.”
“How so?”
“Because I am the man who will become the Heavenly Demon. The next Heavenly Demon desires the Poison King of this Cult to be a man who travels the world, not one who rots in solitude.”
“...!”
“Well? Will you sign the memorandum?”
The Poison King remained silent for a moment. He was likely curious about my true motives—what intention I had in setting such a condition.
But he would never know. He could never guess that I intended to prevent the horrific incident destined to happen in the future.
“Why do you hesitate? Anyway, this only applies after you’ve become a dog. It shouldn't matter, right?”
I had even added the proviso: if he lost the bet.
Even though he believed he couldn't possibly lose, he still hesitated. It seemed the idea of leaving this place was that much of a burden to him.
I didn't push him any further and picked up a brush.
“Anyway, fine. I’ll write it. I’m learning so much from you, Lord Poison King; of course I should sign a memorandum.”
I wrote a memorandum stating that if I were to be poisoned by anything here in the Thousand Poison Forest, it would not be the Poison King’s responsibility, but my own for coming here voluntarily. I even stamped it with my hand-seal.
The Poison King was genuinely startled when I actually wrote it. It seemed that even when I brought it up, he hadn't expected me to follow through.
“Are you an idiot? Now I won't be held responsible even if I poison you and let you die a painful death.”
“That won't happen.”
“And where does that confidence come from?”
“Because only a brilliant person can master the poison arts. Since you are the smartest among the Demon Lords, Lord Poison King, you wouldn't commit such a reckless act.”
I looked around as I spoke.
“Coming here, I’ve realized it. The person who masters poison is the smartest of all. You have to memorize all these poisonous herbs and creatures, and to manufacture a poison, you have to perform hundreds, thousands of combinations and mixtures, don't you? On top of that, you have to create the antidotes. And is that all? You have to master the actual techniques of administering poison. Would the person standing at the pinnacle of such intelligence commit such a deed? Never. You might laugh while digging holes alone, but you wouldn't do something that stupid.”
The Poison King’s eyes grew wide and round. His reaction was almost cute, matching his youthful appearance. His large eyes blinked a few times before he spoke as if in disbelief.
“You certainly talk a lot, and you talk well.”
In that moment, the Poison King was sincerely impressed.
Poison King, I haven't even started yet.
“You won't be bored while you're with me. Now then, I’ll get back to my work.”
After handing him the memorandum, I continued my tasks. I brought over a sack of poisonous herbs and emptied it. The Poison King, who had been watching me organize the herbs, suddenly spoke.
“What should I write? If you write one and I don't, it makes me look like the petty one.”
He had finally made up his mind to sign.
“Oh, it’s nothing much. Just: 'I will leave the Thousand Poison Gate once every ten days.' That’s enough.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes.”
“Can I just stand in front of the entrance and then come back in?”
“It doesn't matter. As long as you step outside of this place.”
“What meaning is there in that?”
“Because the scenery you see from here and the scenery you see from the front gate will be different.”
The Poison King stared at me wordlessly. You're wondering what this is about, aren't you? If you're a madman, I'm someone who's also called a madman. Let's go at it, Poison King. Let's see who's the bigger lunatic.
The Poison King wrote the memorandum and stamped it with his hand-seal.
“Second Young Master, you’ve lost. Since I will never be persuaded, this memorandum is nothing more than a scrap of waste paper. My will is set; how do you plan to break it?”
In truth, I didn't have a specific plan to persuade him. Just as the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had said, I would simply treat him the way I had treated the others.
“I’ll have to do my best.”
“Do I really look like someone who would bark at the training ground?”
“At least once in your life.”
“How did the other Demon Lords fall for someone as flimsy as you? I simply don't understand it.”
The Poison King’s eyes were full of confidence and sharp intelligence. He was a different person from the one who had been digging in the dirt with a face covered in mud.
“Be careful. From now on, I’m not responsible even if you die.”
*
The next day, I worked hard as if nothing had happened.
The Poison King viewed every action of mine as intentional. Whenever I spoke, he would habitually say:
“I know all this is just a trick to get on my good side. It’s a waste of effort!”
But I didn't care what he thought.
If there was one plan within my planlessness, it was this:
Focus on the work, not the man.
I learned the work with sincerity. It wasn't so I could use the poison for something later. It was because working here was a first-time experience for me. There is always a lesson to be found in a first experience.
“When else would I live a life where I carry sacks of poisonous herbs on my back and sort them? This is a valuable experience for me.”
I was living in a way I never had before. It was something I hadn't even experienced before my regression.
Thinking differently, using my body differently.
I hoped this would have a positive impact on my life and my martial arts. There are times when no matter how hard you focus on a thought, it won't come to you. Yet, it suddenly flashes into your mind while you're bathing or walking down the street.
It was the same here. I hoped this unfamiliar work in the Thousand Poison Forest would bring a fresh influence to my life and martial arts. While sorting herbs, I hoped for the Twelve-Star Great Achievement of the Wind God Four Steps. While mixing poisons, I hoped to realize a new facet of life.
With those thoughts, the work here wasn't frustrating; it was fun.
I believed that if I continued like this, an opportunity to move the Poison King’s heart would surely come. That opportunity would arrive when I truly immersed myself in the poison arts.
“Careful! This time, you must pour exactly half!”
When else in my life would I have the chance to mix the fifteen ingredients of Soul-Severing Acid?
“There! It’s done!”
I followed his instructions precisely. With my level of martial arts, how could my movements be anything but exact? I could probably work more to his liking than anyone else here at the Thousand Poison Gate.
“By the way, do you usually do all this work alone?”
“I do.”
“It must be difficult.”
I already knew the reason why he didn't recklessly bring Poison Humans here.
There were so many lethal poisons in his residence that if he took in the wrong disciples and they caused an accident, the problem would become immense.
In fact, the Thousand Poison Forest was a place under heavy surveillance and investigation by the Tongcheon Pavilion. Any use of poison had to be reported, and the inventory was constantly inspected.
After finishing the mixture of Soul-Severing Acid, I honestly expressed my feelings with a satisfied expression.
“This is fun! What poison are we mixing next?”
Of course, he didn't believe me.
“I think you’d be better as a street actor than the Heavenly Demon.”
“Next time you go out to the Central Plains with me, how about joining a performance troupe? With your looks, Lord Poison King, you could even aim for a leading role.”
The Poison King looked disgusted. His expression said exactly this: I hate leaving this place, and now you want me to play a lead role in a play?
“Just now, in your imagination, Lord Poison King, you just poisoned everyone from the actors on stage to the audience, didn't you?”
“I wonder if you, the Second Young Master, would have survived?”
As he turned away abruptly, I shouted after him.
“The performance is canceled!”
He didn't even pretend to hear me as he walked away.
*
The Poison King didn't have much interest in other people's business.
If this was the level of interest he showed me, who had come for such an important matter, I could imagine how he viewed others. To him, people probably existed somewhere far below poisonous herbs.
Of course, he would occasionally ask impulsive questions. Just like now. While pounding herbs, the Poison King suddenly asked:
“Hey, Second Young Master, be honest. You’re trying to steal my poison techniques to poison your brother, aren't you?”
I replied as I transferred water into a large vat.
“Everyone knows I’m here with you. If my brother were to die of poisoning, who would be the first suspect? I’m the one who should be worried about my brother being poisoned.”
Thump, thump! Instead of a rebuttal, the sound of the Poison King pounding herbs grew louder.
“I have no interest in assassination by poison. If I were to learn even one thing from you, I’d rather learn something else.”
“Like what?”
He was still focused on pounding the herbs without looking at me. There was no telling when he might slip back into his own world, but my next answer was sure to pull him back to this side.
“I want to learn detoxification. Isn't the true essence of the poison arts detoxification, not administration?”
The sound of pounding herbs stopped instantly. His gaze was fixed on me. It was the most surprised expression I had seen on him since we met. Because I had spoken the exact thought he held in his heart.
“It’s only been a few days, but what I’ve felt since coming here is that creating a poison seems easier than creating the antidote to perfectly neutralize it. So I thought: a person who can create an antidote that can surely neutralize the poison they made, a person who can instantly detoxify a poison when an opponent sprays it—wouldn't that person be the true master of poison arts?”
It meant that only when one is perfect in both administration and detoxification can they truly realize the ultimate principle of poison arts.
“Where did you hear such words?”
From the next Poison King, who learned the poison arts from you.
“It’s just my own thought. The analogy might be a bit strange, but martial arts are the same. It’s harder to capture someone alive than it is to kill them.”
I threw down the gauntlet. A gamble that was most advantageous to me, who possessed a body immune to all poisons.
“Pick one poison and teach me the detoxification for it. I’ll detoxify, and you’ll administer. How about it? Let’s have a match!”
You’ve practiced poison arts your whole life; surely you can win a match like that? Isn't this a matter of pride?
I didn't provoke him in that manner. I knew a clumsy provocation would surely backfire.
Poison King, say yes. Say let’s have a match!
If he just said yes, this bet was my victory.
But the Poison King didn't fall for it so easily.
“No.”
At his firm refusal, I asked:
“Why not?”
“Do you think I don't know your trick? You’re hoping I’ll say this: 'If you can detoxify my poison, I’ll consider myself the loser of the bet.' Right? That’s what you want to hear, isn't it?”
I didn't deny it. In fact, if it weren't my own business, I would have applauded him.
“You could just win the bet, couldn't you?”
“How can I be sure I’ll win? Even the detoxification technique is mine.”
The Poison King began pounding the herbs again.
“Go practice your barking, Second Young Master.”
*
That evening, I went to see my father.
The more I got to know the Poison King, the more frustrated I felt. At times like this, I needed someone to help me steel my resolve. In that regard, my father was the most suitable person.
Because I visited him just before he went to bed, I ended up seeing my father’s pajamas once again.
“A different floral pattern than last time, I see. This must be the greatest armor in the Murim. Any enemy who sees it would think, ‘There's no way the Heavenly Demon would wear pajamas like that,’ and just walk right past. It's the ultimate defense!”
My father looked at me with an expression that asked how long I was going to talk nonsense, but he seemed to have expected that I would visit at least once.
“You knew, didn't you, Father? That the Poison King isn't someone who would easily be swayed by me.”
“Have you given up already?”
“Of course not. It’s just that I’ve never seen someone so trapped in their own world before.”
That characteristic smirk appeared on my father’s lips. Yes, I had come today to see that very smile.
Seeing it gave me strength. In fact, it made me feel better.
Yes, enjoy yourself all you want for now. I will definitely bring the Poison King before you.
I asked the question I had wanted to ask for a long time.
“Father, you dislike the Poison King, don't you?”
Father neither confirmed nor denied it. Since he was a man who truly loved martial arts, it was only natural that he would dislike poison arts or soul-seizing techniques.
“If you dislike him, why do you keep him alive? You could just kill him.”
“Because he is the most threatening to our enemies.”
“Couldn't he start a rebellion or go mad and poison the people of our Cult?”
“If one is to use the Poison King as a weapon for the Cult, one must accept that level of risk.”
“And if my brother or I die in the process?”
“That, too, must be accepted.”
“You should only say things like that when you have about ten other children hidden away somewhere.”
“What makes you think I don't?”
“You shouldn't. Just having my brother is enough of a headache.”
A faint smile touched my father’s lips. If Sama Myeong or the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had said that, he might have burst into a hearty laugh.
“It was the same in the past, but whenever I stand before a solid wall, I think of you first, Father. Now that I’ve seen your face, I’m satisfied. I’ll take my leave. Oh, and at this rate, I might soon show you a rather unfilial sight at the Great Training Ground.”
After making that joke, I was about to turn away when my father suddenly asked:
“Do you really think the Poison King is trapped in a world of his own?”